(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The main contenders in El Salvador’s presidential race are now running neck-and-neck, according to a poll by Consulta Mitofsky released by TCS. 37.7 per cent of respondents would vote for Mauricio Funes of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), while 35.1 per cent would support Rodrigo Ávila of the ruling Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The main contenders in El Salvador’s presidential race are now running neck-and-neck, according to a poll by Consulta Mitofsky released by TCS. 37.7 per cent of respondents would vote for Mauricio Funes of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), while 35.1 per cent would support Rodrigo Ávila of the ruling Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
Support for Funes is up 6.7 points since November, while Ávila has gained 5.6 points. 18.9 per cent of respondents remain undecided.
ARENA’s Antonio Saca, a media businessman, was elected in March 2004, garnering 57.73 per cent of the vote. ARENA candidates have won the last four presidential elections in the Central American country. Saca is ineligible for a consecutive term in office.
In September 2007, Funes became the FMLN’s presidential nominee. In March 2008, Ávila, a former National Police chief, won ARENA’s three-candidate internal nationwide primary.
The FMLN was once an umbrella armed group of left-wing revolutionaries fighting against the Salvadoran establishment. In the early 1990s, the FMLN was disbanded and became a legal political party. Funes is the first FMLN presidential candidate with no past as an armed guerrilla member.
The FMLN had a strong showing in legislative elections on Jan. 18, winning 35 seats in the legislative Assembly.
On Jan. 28, Funes reiterated previous calls for the media to organize a live televised debate with the presidential candidates, saying "I will insist on the debate with all the candidates, but particularly with Mr. Ávila."
The next presidential ballot will take place on Mar. 15.
Polling Data
Which of these candidates would you vote for in the next presidential election?
|
|
Jan. 2009 |
Nov. 2008 |
Oct. 2008 |
|
Mauricio Funes (FMLN) |
37.7% |
31.0% |
33.9% |
|
Rodrigo Ávila (ARENA) |
35.1% |
29.5% |
29.5% |
|
Other |
8.3% |
2.3% |
1.4% |
|
Not sure |
18.9% |
37.2% |
35.2% |
Source: Consulta Mitofsky / TCS
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,000 Salvadoran adults, conducted from Jan. 23 to Jan. 25, 2009. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.
